The court heard Alam smashed a heavy burner over the head of colleague Antonio Albuquerque, 51, at The Ancient Raj in Frimley High Street on April 21 last year.

He then delivered more than a dozen blows to Mr Albuquerque, leaving him with cuts to his head and bruising on his face and body.

The incident took place after an elderly couple left a £10 note on a table at the restaurant the previous night, which staff thought was a tip.

Tips were not customary in the restaurant and any that were left were taken to the till. Mr Albuquerque, assistant manager of The Ancient Raj, believed the defendant had taken the note left by the couple.

Alam was asked if he had taken the money and alleged that Mr Albuquerque came at him with the burner.

The defendant claimed he was acting in self-defence but the jury rejected his version of events.

Instead, the victim said the defendant had stared at him from across a table before hitting him on the left side of the head with the burner, which he had concealed in advance.

William Nash, representing Alam, said his client had predominantly been employed in the restaurant industry until the incident occurred, earning around £150 a week, and had been regarded as a good worker.

Alam, of Elizabeth Close in London, had worked at the restaurant for four years until 2009 before returning on April 1 last year.

Mr Nash said: “He is a family man with no previous convictions.

“He has a family, which includes a number of children who are quite young, the youngest is 13 months old.

“During the course of the pregnancy with his last child, his wife suffered seriously from diabetes and was diagnosed with a bladder condition.

“She is now unwell quite significantly and is dependent on him, he bears a responsibility in terms of child care.”

Mr Nash said Alam had learnt his lesson and did not enjoy the process of being in court.

Addressing the defendant, Judge Michael Addison said: “You had a disagreement with the assistant manager, it concerned the fact you thought he was accusing you of falsely stealing £10.

“That is no excuse for what you did.

“The most serious thing is the injuries, there were really dreadful bruises on various parts of his body, he was in great pain for three weeks.”